- 1973 Winchester 400
The fourth running of the Dri-Power 400 was held under American Speed Association sanction on September 30, 1973, at the
Winchester Speedway .Vern Schrock of
Middlebury, Indiana became the most improbable of winners, as he went from spectator to event Champion in winning the fourth running of the “Dri-Power 400.” Schrock arrived at the track without a ride, but with his driving suit and helmet in his passenger car, just in case. When Dave Wall ofKansas City, Missouri , failed to show for qualifying, Schrock hopped in the car and turned in the seventh-fastest time of the 89 cars that would attempt to qualify. When Wall was still a no-show on race day, Schrock would climb back into the machine and proceed to make “400” history.Ed VanderLaan of
Grand Rapids, Michigan started off the weekend with a track record qualifying time of 17.930 seconds (100.390 MPH). At the drop of the green, VanderLaan made his starting spot pay off as he powered by Don Gregory for the lead.Tom Maier would take the lead on lap 115 and hold it through lap 160. Don Schoenfeld led the next 38 laps. Passing the halfway point, Maier, VanderLaan, Jim Cushman, and Eldon Byler all would take turns at the lead. Cruising amongst the top-five most of the race, Schrock took the lead for the first time on lap 294 and would never relinquish the top spot. At the finish, it was Schrock winning by a half lap and collecting $5,270. Cushman would take a career-best second followed by Donnie Roberts, Paul Weisner, and
Joe Ruttman .External links
* [http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/ Winchester Speedway website]
* [http://www.craracing.net/ Official CRA Website]
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